Due to the pandemic, a lot of teams worldwide shifted to remote work. Remote work has advantages such as less commute stress, but it also has challenges. One of these is communication.
The question we need to answer is this: How can we keep everyone in the loop when we’re no longer in the same office? This is where collaboration tools come in. Collaboration tools boost team productivity by increasing transparency. Everyone knows what needs to be done, the deadlines to be met, and more.
Below, I’ve rounded up a list of the best tools that you should consider for your remote team. Keep reading.
1. Monday.com
Monday.com helps teams manage their week in advance through its scheduling features. You can rank tasks based on their priority as well as set due dates. I love Monday.com’s colorful interface that makes collaboration fun. See its latest features here.
2. Trello
Trello is hard to miss. This tool is a great option for small and medium-sized businesses. It’s easy to use since all you need to do is create cards for tasks and drag them from one list to another depending on the progress of a project.
3. Zoom
Zoom is one of the video collaboration tools that became popular post-pandemic. This tool can handle small to large teams. You’ll be able to screen-share, record your meeting, and run a webinar. Did you know that you can also change your background with Zoom to hide your messy room? Cool, right?
4. Slack
Slack is an easy-to-use messaging app for teams of all sizes. To increase work productivity, Slack allows you to integrate various tools at no additional costs. Other tools you can integrate include Google Calendar, Donut, Asana, Dropbox, Trello, and Monday.com. See all the apps here.
5. Stormboard
Brainstorming and acting on ideas become easier with Stormboard. Everyone on your team becomes an active participant with Stormboard’s features. When it’s time to turn those ideas into reality, you’ll be able to create projects and set goals for team members.
6. Dropbox
Dropbox is one of the oldest collaboration tools out there. It’s the perfect tool to create backups of your files and keep them safe. Upload a document, share it with your team, and allow them to edit it. You can also access those files using any device — computer, laptop, tablet, or phone.
7. Wrike
Wrike claims to empower remote teams by ensuring a 360-degree work visibility. On Wrike, you’ll be able to take advantage of Gantt charts to and oversee each aspect of a project. Leading companies like Airbnb and DELL have used Wrike.
How to Collaborate Effectively
If this is your first time to use a collaboration tool, I would recommend starting with the free version and upgrading when you’ve decided that you like it. At the same time, follow these best practices (as suggested by Harvard Business Review):
- Create communication norms.
- Avoid bombarding your team with messages.
- Make room for celebration!
- Communicate clearly regardless of the medium.
Final Thoughts
I hope this list can help your remote team stay connected and productive. If you’re still now sure which tool to use, take time to visit each tool (I’ve provided the links for them) and check their features. Read reviews as well to learn from other teams’ experiences with the tool.
